How far back to get quality Marlin 1894/1895?

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RickE

New member
I really would like a Marlin 4570, but have trouble getting by the (IMHO) poor quality. I have a 1948 336 that is of much, much better quality. Fit and finish is not even close. Action, stock, all better. How far back does one have to go to find Marlin quality rifles? I will by used if I can find one. Shame on Remington!
 
I bough a new model 1895 45-70 SBL last year. Other than the the fact the stock trigger sucks the quality is just fine. I put a Wild West trigger in it and couldn't be happier.
 
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Most say that a pre-CBS (crossbolt safety) is the dividing line, but I had a .44mag Model 1894 made in 2001 with a CBS that was perfectly fine.



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Anything with JM on the barrel should be fine. REP on the barrel is a Remington made gun and a big warning to look it over careful. Looked at a couple of lever guns last week and sights were canted relative to the action.
 
Look ahead not back. I had a .44 mag. Marlin lever gun that wouldn't print at 25 yards. Avoid the micro-groove rifling like it is a disease.
 
Again- JM does NOT guarantee the gun was made at the old Marlin factory, nor is it a guarantee of better quality even if it was.
Quality was declining the last year or so at the old plant even before the move, and Remington continued to use JM-marked barrels made at the old factory in new guns built at the Ilion plant after the move till they ran out.
Denis
 
I have an 1894 1990's vintage that has the crossbolt safety. I'm very happy with it and have had no malfunctions.

Fit and finish are superb:
20121111_1555.jpg


Just make sure it has the barrel stamped with this:
proofstamp.jpg


I would not plunk my cash down on on a remlin
 
See Post #6.
That JM stamp is meaningless regarding quality. Rifles produced by Remington at Ilion immediately after the move from the old Marlin plant had it.
Denis
 
Avoid the micro-groove rifling like it is a disease.

I have an early 70's 336 in .35 rem with a MICRO GROOVE BARREL that shoots MOA with factory ammo. I had no idea until just now they were so awful
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Mine often wouldn't hit paper at 25 yards with reloads from the bench. Those that did were tumbling.
I like guns that are dependable and versitile. That is why I reload.
I haven't purchased a box of factory center fire ammo in almost 30 years.
Mine was in .44 mag. For the record, same ammo in my Ruger Redhawk would hit 8" plate at 100 yards from rest or the ram silhouette at 200 yards. Not the ammo to blame, only the Marlin.
 
My .44 Mag Marlin from pre-Rem days does just fine with the Micro-Groove rifling. So did the .30-30 Marlin I had.
You may have just gotten a lemon.
Denis
 
My brother's .22 has micro-groves and is a tack driver. I don't know if my 45-70 has it but it will shoot a 1" hole at 100 yards with my hand loads. As for as the Cross-Bolt safety goes, I hate it/them because lever guns should not have a cross-bolt safety. However! If the safety between my ears works and I remember to disengage it before pulling the trigger it preforms flawlessly. Sure does make a elegant gun ugly though. :(
 
Mine was in .44 mag. For the record, same ammo in my Ruger Redhawk would hit 8" plate at 100 yards from rest or the ram silhouette at 200 yards. Not the ammo to blame, only the Marlin.
Click to expand...

SAAMI specs for .44 Remington Magnum in a pistol/revolver are for a .429" groove diameter, and for .44 Remington Magnum in rifles the groove diameter is .431"...

Marlin 1894's follow this very closely, and (very generally speaking in my limited experience) don't shoot Jacketed below .430" or lead below .432" for spit...

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Salmoneye,
Thanks.
Trying to shoot a round in one gun that's designed for another is no test, at all.
Kind of like using Ford pistons in a Chevy engine.
The micro rifling barrels are not a problem, with ammo that's compatible.
 
g.willakers said:
Trying to shoot a round in one gun that's designed for another is no test, at all.
Click to expand...

Exactly...

I have only found one bullet/load that both my Ruger SBH and Micro-Groove 1894 like, and that is 22gr of H110 under a Hornady 265gr FP (.430")...

I can load for either all day with cast, but not the same diameter bullet...

btmj said:
What is the disadvantage of the cross bolt safety?
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I only have access to one Marlin with the CBS, and the ONLY thing I have been able to come up with that makes it 'advantageous', is when unloading...

Other than that, I'd just as soon replace the CBS with an aftermarket saddle-ring...

Sadly, 'technically' the gun belongs to SWMBO...

:D
 
I'm not sure the manufacturer of my 1894, but it's a micro grove produced in 1990 and I have no issues at all. It's a straight shooter, dropped three deer last fall and is just plain fun to plink with at the range. I've worked up a load with 240gr Hornady's using H110 that produces a 1"cloverleaf at 100yds. (bench rest).

Edit: .44 Magnum
 
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